Dodgers vs. DBacks Preview: Beckett Tries To Pick Up Where He Left Off
As the Los Angeles Dodgers headed into the third inning of yesterday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, it looked as though the game was going to take an unexpected turn for the worst. Veteran Dan Haren gave up four runs in the third and Mike Bolsinger, making his MLB debut as a starter, had allowed no runs and recorded five strikeouts heading into the fourth. It had the making of a strange role reversal until Andre Ethier shifted the momentum with a three-run homer in the fourth. The rest was history, and the Dodgers avoided two consecutive losses to their NL West competitors.
Josh Beckett takes the mound for the Dodgers in the series finale, hoping to give the Dodgers the 7-1 season edge over the D-backs. Beckett showed glimmers of consistency in his last start against the San Francisco Giants, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four. Beckett’s grueling injuries may now be behind him, which is key as the organization is in need for stability at the back end of their rotation.
Aaron Hill is a career 15-for-38 against the 33-year-old right-hander, while Mark Trumbo and Martin Prado are hitless against him in a combined 13 at bats. The DBacks hope to carry over their production at the plate from Saturday to today’s game.
For the Diamondbacks, another inexperienced pitcher receives the start today. The DBacks organization made some rotation changes after having the worst pitching staff across the entire league so far this season, statistically speaking. Mike Bolsinger made his first major league start Saturday, and now right-hander Josh Collmenter starts for the D-Backs after recently being moved out of the bullpen. The 28-year-old makes his second start of the season today.
Collmenter did not pitch as a starter during spring training, which may have contributed to his first start of the season against the New York Mets lasting only four innings. In the short outing, the right-hander allowed five hits and three runs. If Saturday was any indication, the Dodgers may be able to chase the latest reliever turned starter in their quest to win the series.
After sitting out Saturday’s game, Yasiel Puig is back in right field and it’s Matt Kemp who is out of the lineup. Despite not feeling 100 percent yesterday, Andre Ethier remains in the lineup, taking over the center field duties.
Dodgers Lineup
2B Gordon
LF Crawford
SS Ramirez
1B Gonzalez
RF Puig
CF Ethier
3B Uribe
C Federowicz
P Beckett
Diamondbacks Lineup
RF: Parra
SS: Pennington
1B: Goldschmidt
C: Montero
2B: Hill
3B: Chavez
LF: Trumbo
CF: Pollock
P: Collmenter
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